Hygienic protection for beverages&#39; containers

ABSTRACT

The object of the present invention refers to a protection device for beverages&#39; containers in general, particularly for disposable glasses in plastic, paper, paperboard and similar, In particular it comprises an annular collar 1 realized by means of an external lateral wall 4 and an internal lateral wall 3 joined to each other through an upper junction base 5 opportunely shaped. In this manner an annular site 6 is created by means of which the annular collar 1 is hooked up in a removable way on the upper edge 8 of the glass in such a manner to protect it from external contaminations.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention refers to the technical field of containers for beverages in general and in particular it refers to a hygienic protection to prevent external contact contamination and similar.

STATE OF THE ART

By now the containers for cold or hot drinks are well known. These could include coffee' cups or glasses in general, and in particular the entire category of one-time disposable glasses or containers.

Specially in the public use, the hygiene is an is indispensable prerogative to avoid the contamination by virus and pathogen agents of various nature. It is indeed known by everyone how the use of contaminated glasses could potentially expose everyone at a high risk. Often these last ones result to be very disturbing and weakening and often cause long and expensive antibiotic cures.

All the beverage's containers in general are subject to this risk, and in a particular way all the category of disposable containers, as plastic glasses and similar, caused by the fact that are essentially aimed for a public and crowded use. These last ones are indeed used commonly not only in the bars, but also in the offices or in the different occasions of parties and meetings and can easily become a way of diffusion of viruses when are not adequately protected.

All the disposable glasses are exclusively for individual use and, before using them, are unpacked from their packages and placed stacked on top of the other at user's disposal. Often, when taking a glass, happens to take out of the stack more than one contemporarily. In this case the common reaction is to remove and replace on top of the stack the exceeding glasses and use only one of them. Unfortunately the handling operation of the glasses implies a contamination of all of their parts especially the ones that will be in contact with the lips of the user. It is clear how everything can be an easy mean of transmission of virus not only for third parties that will use the glasses that have been handled and replaced by the first user, but also for the same user.

Moreover it is clear how the sole and simple exposition to the external environment of all the glasses in general, regardless their being disposable or normal and simply stacked on top of the other or kept into apposite dispensers, can be a cause of contamination. Just thinking to all the glasses and containers in general exposed in a bar and subject to any kind of virus given by sneezes or cough of potential users.

Even the simple handling of the same, for example when the barman takes one in order to serve a drink, could represent a high risk of contamination if his hands are not completely sanitized.

Thus, it is cleat how this kind of contamination is difficult to prevent and almost unavoidable for all the containers in general, regret their being disposable or normal.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

It is therefore the aim of the present invention to give a protection device that resolves all the above mentioned inconvenient for all kinds of containers for beverages.

In particular it is the aim of the present invention to give a protective device that eliminates the risks of infection during the use of containers and that is economical and easy to use.

These and other aims are reached through the present protection device for beverage's containers in general, particularly for plastic, paper, cardboard and similar disposable glasses and characterized by the fact that it comprises at least an annular collar comprising lateral walls and an upper junction base connected to them defining so an annular site. In this manner the annular collar is appropriate to bind, by means of said annular site and in a removable way, on the upper edge of the glass in such a manner to protect it from external contaminations.

The annular collar so realized can therefore be easily applied on the glass as a common lid. The grip will be guaranteed by the annular site that will receive the upper edge of the glass and a portion of the wall's height constituting the same glass.

Naturally the annular geometry of the collar, simply seen as a crown or annular configuration not exclusively circular but also with other shapes, allows exclusively the protection of the edge of the glass and of its wall's portion directed to the following contact with the lips during the use.

Advantageously the annular site of the above said collar comprises:

-   -   A lateral external wall tracing at least approximately the shape         of the external face of the glass for a predetermined portion of         its entire height and projecting downward from the upper edge of         the same glass;     -   A lateral internal wall tracing at least approximately the shape         of the internal face of the glass for a predetermined portion of         its entire height and projecting downward from said upper edge         of the glass;     -   The upper junction base to connect to each other said external         lateral wall and said internal lateral wall. The connection         happens from the side of the upper edge of the glass and in a         manner that the upper junction base traces at least         approximately the profile of the upper edge of the glass. In         this way it is realized a receiving site that is opportunely         shaped for the upper edge.

The annular collar, thus, is realized with the lateral external and internal wall that are complied with the shape of the wall. In this way it is obtained a constructive solution that is practically universal and adaptable, in each case, to each different geometry of the container.

Between the different possible constructive solutions, a first possible solution provides advantageously that the upper junction base comprises;

-   -   a first annular portion projecting from the internal wall upward         and projecting toward the outside of the glass according to a         first convex profile of a predetermined radius R₁;     -   a second annular portion projecting from the external wall         upward and projecting toward the outside of the glass according         to a second convex profile of a predetermined radius R₂;     -   A third annular portion of junction of the apex of said first         and said second portion defining the receiving site for the         upper edge of the glass.

In this manner there is a receiving site that is opportunely shaped to contain the upper edge of the disposable plastic or similar glasses. The need of such shaping is found in the fact that, generally, this last one results typically curled or folded up to create a roundish supporting base for the lips that compensates the very thin thickness of the same glass. If indeed it was not complied this way, the upper edge would become dangerous and could cause painful cut of the lips.

Moreover, many times, the plastic glass presents kind of a collar close to its upper edge on the side of the internal wall. For this aim, then, the present device provides that the first annular portion is connected to the internal wall by means of a projection that gets extended in a radial way from the internal wall towards said first portion defining a step.

Advantageously a second possible configuration provides that the upper junction base comprises an annular cup of predetermined radius R₃ and emerging from both the external and internal lateral walls defining a second new conformation of receiving site.

This solution is particularly advantageous when the upper edge of the glass is conformed according to a circular profile.

In the case of common glasses or cups where the upper edge does not have any particular shapes but is practically rectilinear, then it is preferred that the upper junction base comprises a junction with a profile that is almost rectilinear. In this manner, also in this case, the collar will fit perfectly on the edge of the glass.

Advantageously the annular collar applies on the upper edge of the glass allowing to the receiving site to contain completely in its inside the upper edge of the glass realizing a snap engage of the collar on said edge.

This solution is typical in the case the upper edges of the glass are particularly shaped as described above. In the case of rectilinear edge the collar will lean or realized with interference.

In order to remove the collar at the time of its use, are comprised opportune means of disjunction that comprise:

-   -   At least a tear-off tongue prolonging from a predetermined point         of the external lateral wall and that gets projected downward;     -   A plurality of notches placed in correspondence of at least a         side of said tongue and defining a tear-off line along at least         a portion of the entire height of the collar, said notches         having a predetermined pitch.

Advantageously the notches are placed in correspondence of both the sides of the tongue. Moreover the height of the notches can coincide to the entire height of the annular collar.

By simply pulling out the tongue, it is realized the tearing and the removal of the collar.

In all cases anyway it is possible to comprise the application of a protective film internally to the annular site of the collar and supplied with sterilizing substances.

In this way, when applying the protective device, there is already a sterilization of the same edge of the glass.

The present device can be produced separately or already integrated in the disposable glasses.

For this aim it is then possible to have a type of disposable glass in plastic, paper, cardboard and similar characterized by the fact that it comprises in correspondence of its upper edge a protection device as described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of this device, according to the invention, will be clearer with the description that of one of its pattern realization that follows, made to illustrate but not limit, with reference to the annexed drawings, in which:

The FIGS. 1 and 2 show in a prospective view the application phases of the protective device on the glass;

FIG. 3 shows a section plane of the device applied on the glass and of its geometry according to a first possible constructive configuration;

FIG. 4 shows in detain a section of the device according to said first configuration;

FIG. 5 shows a possible version of the device still according to the first constructive configuration;

FIGS. 6 and 7 show respectively a detailed section of the device and a section plane of the same applied on a glass, in a second constructive version;

FIG. 8 shows a third possible configuration of realization of the device in one of its application phases on the glass while FIG. 9 shows the removing phase of the same.

FIG. 10 shows a detail of application of the device on the container.

DESCRIPTION OF SOME PATTERN REALIZATIONS

In FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 it is therefore described an appropriate device able to resolve all the above said inconvenient.

In particular, an annular collar 1 is realized through a couple of lateral walls (3, 4) connected to each other by an upper junction base 5, in a way to realize an annular site 6. The annular site so obtained (look at FIG. 3), will receive in its inside a predetermined portion of the height of the glass's wall 7 comprising also its upper edge 8.

In particular, FIG. 3 shows in detail a possible section of the annular collar comprising the external lateral wall 4 and the internal lateral wall 3, which follow the profile of the glass. In this way, the annular denomination of the collar is not exclusively limited to a circular geometry, but also to any geometry tracing the profile of the container. The upper junction base 5 allows then to connect to each other the two walls by following approximately the profile of the upper edge 8 of the glass. In this way it is realized the annular site 6 receiving the wall's portion 7 of the glass and of the same upper edge 8.

The height of the two lateral walls 3 and 4, respectively external and internal, can vary at someone's taste without having to move apart from the present inventive concept. In this way the collar will keep a height of the glass's wall 7 that is more or less wide including, naturally, its upper edge 8.

The section of the collar can also comprise different shapes and geometries, according to the needs and specific applications and, hereinafter, are described few of the preferred ones. The numbering has been increased of a hundred for each preferred described configuration only for the aim of clarity of interpretation and thus in an absolute not limitative manner.

According to a first preferred configuration of the invention (look at FIG. 4) the upper junction base 5 is adjusted in such a way to realize a receiving site 109 for the upper edge 108 of the glass as described later on. A first annular portion 110 results emerging from the internal wall 103 upwards and projecting toward the outside of the glass according to a first convex profile of predetermined radius R₁. A second annular portion 111 is on the other hand emerging upward from the external wall 104. Also this second portion results projected towards the outside of the glass according to a second convex profile of predetermined radius R₂. The two above mentioned portions are then joined to each other through a straightaway or with a predetermined radius of curvature third junction annular portion 112. In this way it is realized the receiving site 109 for the upper edge of the glass.

Naturally the receiving site 109 has been described by dividing it in the above mentioned portions (110, 111, 112) exclusively for geometry's clearness and thus not limited for the present invention. This first configuration results particularly advantageous in the case of disposable glasses which, often, present an upper edge 108 shaped as a curl. The disposable glasses are all considered one-time glasses in general and commonly realize in materials as plastic, paper, cardboard, polyester and similar.

The disposable glasses, in general, present a sort of step 113 (look at FIG. 5). For this reason it is then possible to modify the collar in a way that the first annular portion 110 is connected to the internal wall 103 through a portion 114 that gets extended annularly in a radial way from the internal wall towards said first annular portion 110. Indeed, in this case the step can be used and utilized as a stopper step during the insertion of the collar.

A second preferred configuration of the invention (look at FIGS. 6 and 7) provides on the other hand that the upper junction base 5 is realized with an annular cup shape 210 or similar with a predetermined radius R₃. The cup results, also in this case, projecting from both the external 204 and internal 203 lateral walls defining this way also this other new receiving site 209.

A third preferred configuration of the invention (look at FIG. 8), preferably usable in all types of container for liquid as cups or glasses in general and thus not only disposable, comprises a very simple upper junction base 5, or rather a junction 310 with a profile that is almost rectilinear to connect the two walls 303 and 304.

Obviously any other geometry of the upper junction base can be found, without having to move apart from the present inventive concept.

In all the preferred configurations of the invention can be provided means of disjunction 17 (look for example FIGS. 1 and 2). These last ones are needed to remove from the glass, at the time of its use, the protective collar. In particular a tear-off tongue 18 gets projected from a predetermined point of the external lateral wall 4 downward; In correspondence to one or both of its sides are then found a plurality of notching 19 that can comprise the entire or a portion of the height of the collar and that define tear-off lines of predetermined steps.

In all the described configuration is possible to apply a protective film inside the annular site of the collar and provided with sterilizing substances as bactericides or disinfectant in general. In this way, the protective film will get in contact to the edge of the glass as soon as the collar is applied, exercising consequently an action of sterilization of the same edge from any external bacterial that can eventually exist.

It is now described the functioning of the device that results common for all the constructive configurations. For this aim, in a non restrictive manner, it is been chosen to refer to some explicative figures.

As described in FIGS. 1 and 2 the collar 1 can be applied on the upper edge 8 of the glass before exposing it to the public. Alternatively nothing would avoid the realization, for example, of disposable glasses already prearranged with the protective collar. Nothing, thus, would avoid the realization at an industrial scale of disposable glasses already prearranged and packed with such protection. In this way, by simply taking them out from the package and by placing them in the specific dispensers, they result to be ready for the use without any risk of contamination.

With the aim to guarantee the holding of the collar (look at FIG. 10) it is possible to take advantage of the elasticity of the same material and its geometry. In particular for all the solutions applied to the containers that have the upper edge folded (look the cases of FIGS. 4, 5 and 7), the action of insertion causes the opening of the external and internal lateral walls against the upper edge 8. Once the collar is completely inserted, the edge 8 will be contained within its receiving site realizing practically a snap engage.

In other cases where the upper edge of the glass is not shaped (look at FIG. 8 and FIG. 9), it could be applied a simple insertion or a simple interference. In this case, then, the means of disjunction 17 are not needed anymore being able to remove the collar by simply lifting it (look at FIG. 9). This, as already said, is a typical case of the use of the invention on common glasses in glass or coffee' cups in ceramics and similar where the edge is linear.

In all the other described cases, the removal of the collar is also a simple operation. Operating simply on the tongue 18 by pulling it, there will be a tearing along the entire predefined tear-off line 19 allowing the complete removal of the collar.

The realization of the present device can consist, for example, in a material moulding. Zn the case of realization of the annular collar already integrated in the disposable glasses, it is then necessary to have a new additional phase of realization of the glasses that comprises the production and the following application of the collar on the glass within the production run of the glass.

The materials for the realization of the present device can then be, in an absolutely not limitative manner, all the materials suitable to have such protective function.

It is at this point clear how all the aims of the present inventing have been reached. In particular it is clear how the collar resolves all the risks of infection and contamination from the contact of the lips to the edge of a container that is mostly contaminated.

Indeed, in the case of glasses or coffee cups in general, it is possible to replace on them the disposable protective collar once they have been washed, avoiding this way any possible contamination. In the case of disposable glasses is possible to protect the edge in the same manner before arranging them to the public.

The above description of a specific shape is able to show the invention from the conceptive point of view, in a way that others, by using the art, can modify and/or adapt in different applications this specific shape without any further research and without going apart from the inventive concept, and, therefore, it is intended that these adaptations and transformations will be considered as equivalent to this specific realization. The means and materials to make the many described functions can be of various nature without exiting the area of the invention. it is intended that the expressions or the terminology used have a simple descriptive aim and therefore not limiting. 

1-13. (canceled)
 14. A protection device for beverages' containers, said protection device comprising: at least an annular collar having lateral walls and an upper junction base configured to define an annular site, said annular collar being removably fitted by means of said annular site on an upper edge of a container to protect it from external contamination. a lateral external wall tracing at least approximately a shape of an external face of said container for a predetermined portion of its entire height and projecting downward from an upper edge of said container; a lateral internal wall tracing at least approximately a shape of an internal face of said container for a predetermined portion of its entire height and projecting downward from said upper edge of said container; and an upper junction base joining said lateral external and internal walls, said upper junction base defining an annular site, said upper junction base tracing at least approximately a profile of an upper edge of said container with said annular site removably receiving therein said upper edge, said upper junction base further comprising: a first annular portion projecting from said internal wall upward and projecting toward an outside of said container according to a first convex profile of a predetermined radius R1; a second annular portion projecting from said external wall upward and projecting toward the outside of said container according to a second convex profile of a predetermined radius R2; and a third annular portion of junction of an apex of said first and said second portion defining said annular site for said upper edge of said container; wherein said protection device being removably fitted on said upper edge of said container to protect it from external contamination.
 15. The protection device according to claim 14, wherein said first annular portion of said upper junction base is connect to said internal wall by means of a projection extending annularly in a radial manner from said internal wall toward said first portion completing a stop step.
 16. The protection device according to claim 14, wherein said upper junction base further comprising a junction with a profile that is approximately rectilinear.
 17. The protection device according to claim 14, wherein said protection device is engagable on said upper edge of said container allowing said annular site to contain completely in its inside said upper edge of said container realizing a snap-engage on said upper edge of said protection device.
 18. The protection device according to claim 14 further comprising disjunction means able to allow removal of said protection device when using said container.
 19. The protection device according to claim 18, wherein said disjunction means comprising: at least a tear-off tongue prolonging from a predetermined point of said external lateral wall and that gets projected downward; and a plurality of notches placed in correspondence of at least a side of said tongue and defining a tear-off line along at least a portion of the entire height of said protection device, said notches having a predetermined pitch.
 20. The protection device according to claim 19, wherein said notches are placed in correspondence to both sides of said tongue.
 21. The protection device according to claim 20, wherein a height of said notches coincides to an entire height of said protection device.
 22. The protection device according to claim 14 further comprising an application of a protective film inside said annular site of said protection device that is supplied with a sterilizing substance.
 23. A beverage container protection device comprising: at least an annular collar having lateral walls and an upper junction base configured to define an annular site, said annular collar being removably fitted by means of said annular site on an upper edge of a glass container to protect it from external contamination. a lateral external wall tracing at least approximately a shape of an external face of said glass container for a predetermined portion of its entire height and projecting downward from an upper edge of said glass container; a lateral internal wall tracing at least approximately a shape of an internal face of said glass container for a predetermined portion of its entire height and projecting downward from said upper edge of said glass container; an upper junction base joining said lateral external and internal walls, said upper junction base defining an annular site, said upper junction base tracing at least approximately a profile of an upper edge of said glass container with said annular site removably receiving therein said upper edge; and a protective film located inside said annular site that is supplied with a sterilizing substance; wherein said protection device being removably fitted on said upper edge of said glass container to protect it from external contamination.
 24. The beverage container protection device according to claim 23, wherein said upper junction base further comprising: a first annular portion projecting from said internal wall upward and projecting toward an outside of said glass container according to a first convex profile of a predetermined radius R1; a second annular portion projecting from said external wall upward and projecting toward the outside of said glass container according to a second convex profile of a predetermined radius R2; and a third annular portion of junction of an apex of said first and said second portion defining said annular site for said upper edge of said glass container; and
 25. The beverage container protection device according to claim 24, wherein said first annular portion is connect to said internal wall by means of a projection extending annularly in a radial manner from said internal wall toward said first portion completing a stop step.
 26. The beverage container protection device according to claim 23, wherein said upper junction base further comprising an annular cup of a predetermined radius R3 and projecting from both said external and internal lateral walls defining said annular site.
 27. The beverage container protection device according to claim 23, wherein said beverage container protection device is engagable on said upper edge of said glass container allowing said annular site to contain completely in its inside said upper edge of said glass container realizing a snap-engage on said upper edge of said beverage container protection device.
 27. The protection device according to claim 23 further comprising disjunction means able to allow removal of said beverage container protection device when using said glass container, said disjunction means comprising: at least a tear-off tongue prolonging from a predetermined point of said external lateral wall and that gets projected downward; and a plurality of notches placed in correspondence of at least a side of said tongue and defining a tear-off line along at least a portion of the entire height of said annular collar, said notches having a predetermined pitch, said notches being placed in correspondence to both sides of said tongue, said notches having a height coinciding to an entire height of said beverage container protection device.
 28. The protection device according to claim 27, wherein said notches are placed in correspondence to both sides of said tongue.
 29. The protection device according to claim 28, wherein a height of said notches coincides to an entire height of said beverage container protection device. 